A Cautionary Tale (Part 2)
(...Finally, one little fan started to think about what had happened and it came to him in a flash... The owners had grown weary of the beloved home team. It was no longer the favorite toy in the toy box. It didn't deserve the best pieces regardless of the cost. The owners were now captivated by the bright lights and whirling, shiny toys in the other place - and the fans could only stand by and watch, hoping it would be a temporary thing and that soon, very soon, all would once again be good in the land of the Sacramento Kings.)
It was an interesting off-season for the fan, to say the least. The San Antonio Spurs, with the talented Manu rising up and proving his gold medal in the Olympics WASN'T just a fluke, won the cherished O'Brien trophy. The fans sighed...and hoped the next season would be different. That there would be room in Arco for the sacred icon.
Rumors of new knights, old knights, unknown knights and knights of world renown floated throughout the Kingdom. The fans watched nervously, waiting for those moves that would once again bring a WARRIOR King to the land.
After the selection of the new knight with a name remarkably close to that of the golden city by the bay (Sir Francis), talks continued with more fervor and more speculation. Talk around town was unending. This knight would be best, but that knight could leap higher; this knight was better at close combat defense, but that knight was quicker and more adept. It continued on...and finally something happened, but it was not something the fans of the Kingdom had been expecting.
The energy of the team, Sir Bobby, son of Jack, was traded for a younger albeit more unruly knight. Sir Bonzi arrived, amidst whispers and sideways glances. He said the right things in the public square, however, and people resolved to let him have a fair chance.
Then, the fans waited...and waited...and waited some more. Would nothing more be done? Would no other knights enter the ring sporting the hallowed purple, silver and black of the Kings?
Before long, the question was answered. There was another - but he might not be fit of limb. When one land turned him down, however, the magical Petrie struck and the one knight with the very unusual name, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, came into the fold. The fans, after so much angst and despair, began once again to have hope. It might just be all right. The Kingdom might recover after all. They might actually be fit for the tournaments to come, the matches of strength, endurance, skill and heart.
There was still a while to wait. Things were beginning to look up for the fans. They were actually singing again - and smiling to each other - and making plans to attend or at least hear word of the upcoming season of matches.
At some point, someone in the Kingdom had an idea. It was probably a good idea, but it wasn't necessarily the right idea for this particular Kingdom. The owners of the Kings decided to salute the fans. The problem was that the fans didn't need to be saluted. They didn't need to be stroked with soothing words and swarmy compliments. What they wanted - and needed - was WARRIORS. They wanted to see their knights once again take to the field of battle well prepared and willing to fight the good fight to bring home the cherished trophy. To prove to one and all that they were the best in the land.
First, the decision was made to change the colors that the knights would don going into battle. Where purple, silver and black had been the cherished trio of colors, it would soon become purple, gold and silver...and not everyone in the Kingdom was happy about it. There may have been any number of reasons, but the most heartfelt was the anger that the beloved team would be wearing something so close to the colors of their lifelong enemies - their most hated rivals. The new uniforms were debuted and the sighs were held throughout the land. It wasn't easy to explain to those who didn't understand but a lot of people felt sad that their beloved team would be wearing a color that looked like it belonged much further south.
The criers for the team went forth in the land and proclaimed over and over how wonderful the fans were. They seemed to put the fans ahead of the team, not realizing that for many, they didn't need OR want the attention. They wanted only to have the best possible team on the court. If that happened, the fans would continue to support them. They would continue to cheer loudly and long...and they would do it because they loved the team, not because of the color of the uniform OR the big numeral in front of the stadium.
There is hope, however, throughout the Kingdom despite some of the distractions. It's not about the fans; it's about the upcoming competitions. It's about the warrrior Kings who will take to the field of battle and compete for the next 6 months to see who will go to the tournament for the ultimate prize.
The fan who had so many doubts found them melting away as the time neared for the first trumpet to sound to open the new competitions. Yes, there would still be disputes, arguments, disagreements throughout the land, but through it all...the Kings were still the Kings and the fans still loved them. And that was the main thing...
GO KINGS!!!!!
(...Finally, one little fan started to think about what had happened and it came to him in a flash... The owners had grown weary of the beloved home team. It was no longer the favorite toy in the toy box. It didn't deserve the best pieces regardless of the cost. The owners were now captivated by the bright lights and whirling, shiny toys in the other place - and the fans could only stand by and watch, hoping it would be a temporary thing and that soon, very soon, all would once again be good in the land of the Sacramento Kings.)
It was an interesting off-season for the fan, to say the least. The San Antonio Spurs, with the talented Manu rising up and proving his gold medal in the Olympics WASN'T just a fluke, won the cherished O'Brien trophy. The fans sighed...and hoped the next season would be different. That there would be room in Arco for the sacred icon.
Rumors of new knights, old knights, unknown knights and knights of world renown floated throughout the Kingdom. The fans watched nervously, waiting for those moves that would once again bring a WARRIOR King to the land.
After the selection of the new knight with a name remarkably close to that of the golden city by the bay (Sir Francis), talks continued with more fervor and more speculation. Talk around town was unending. This knight would be best, but that knight could leap higher; this knight was better at close combat defense, but that knight was quicker and more adept. It continued on...and finally something happened, but it was not something the fans of the Kingdom had been expecting.
The energy of the team, Sir Bobby, son of Jack, was traded for a younger albeit more unruly knight. Sir Bonzi arrived, amidst whispers and sideways glances. He said the right things in the public square, however, and people resolved to let him have a fair chance.
Then, the fans waited...and waited...and waited some more. Would nothing more be done? Would no other knights enter the ring sporting the hallowed purple, silver and black of the Kings?
Before long, the question was answered. There was another - but he might not be fit of limb. When one land turned him down, however, the magical Petrie struck and the one knight with the very unusual name, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, came into the fold. The fans, after so much angst and despair, began once again to have hope. It might just be all right. The Kingdom might recover after all. They might actually be fit for the tournaments to come, the matches of strength, endurance, skill and heart.
There was still a while to wait. Things were beginning to look up for the fans. They were actually singing again - and smiling to each other - and making plans to attend or at least hear word of the upcoming season of matches.
At some point, someone in the Kingdom had an idea. It was probably a good idea, but it wasn't necessarily the right idea for this particular Kingdom. The owners of the Kings decided to salute the fans. The problem was that the fans didn't need to be saluted. They didn't need to be stroked with soothing words and swarmy compliments. What they wanted - and needed - was WARRIORS. They wanted to see their knights once again take to the field of battle well prepared and willing to fight the good fight to bring home the cherished trophy. To prove to one and all that they were the best in the land.
First, the decision was made to change the colors that the knights would don going into battle. Where purple, silver and black had been the cherished trio of colors, it would soon become purple, gold and silver...and not everyone in the Kingdom was happy about it. There may have been any number of reasons, but the most heartfelt was the anger that the beloved team would be wearing something so close to the colors of their lifelong enemies - their most hated rivals. The new uniforms were debuted and the sighs were held throughout the land. It wasn't easy to explain to those who didn't understand but a lot of people felt sad that their beloved team would be wearing a color that looked like it belonged much further south.
The criers for the team went forth in the land and proclaimed over and over how wonderful the fans were. They seemed to put the fans ahead of the team, not realizing that for many, they didn't need OR want the attention. They wanted only to have the best possible team on the court. If that happened, the fans would continue to support them. They would continue to cheer loudly and long...and they would do it because they loved the team, not because of the color of the uniform OR the big numeral in front of the stadium.
There is hope, however, throughout the Kingdom despite some of the distractions. It's not about the fans; it's about the upcoming competitions. It's about the warrrior Kings who will take to the field of battle and compete for the next 6 months to see who will go to the tournament for the ultimate prize.
The fan who had so many doubts found them melting away as the time neared for the first trumpet to sound to open the new competitions. Yes, there would still be disputes, arguments, disagreements throughout the land, but through it all...the Kings were still the Kings and the fans still loved them. And that was the main thing...
GO KINGS!!!!!
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